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Hat Yai Accommodation Tip

A hotel's walk-in rate is the most expensive way to pay for a room. Book on-line before you arrive, or find a travel agency nearby and there is a good chance that the travel agent will be able to sell you vouchers for the same hotel that are a lot cheaper than the walk-in rate.

Hat Yai Hotels and Accommodation - Page 1

Introduction

The Hat Yai economy depends very much on tourism and therefore you will find a wide selection of hotels and guest houses in all price ranges. At the bottom end of the market are cheap guest houses near to the railway station that seem to be favoured by farang backpackers.

At the top end are some large tourist class hotels. These are more in line with the standards of luxury and comfort that are expected from many Malaysian and Singaporean visitors; after all it is visitors from these countries that make up the bulk of Hat Yai's tourist industry.

In the middle range are many budget hotels, the like of which can be found throughout Thailand. They aren't exactly luxurious but they are functional and cheap.

Budget Accommodation in Hat Yai

On the following pages you will find nine pages of accommodation options in Hat Yai. However, if you don't have time to look at everything and just need a cheap place to stay in Hat Yai because you are on a budget or you are a backpacker who is just passing through, I have prepared the following page to help you.

Busy Periods

Hat Yai isn't like the farang tourist resorts in Thailand, which have high and low seasons at different times of the year. The tourist trade in Hat Yai is fairly constant throughout the year with peaks at certain times.

Hat Yai is a rest and recreation resort primarily for Malaysians, but also for Singaporeans. Visitors from these countries tend to come for the weekend and the town starts to get busy on a Thursday. Fridays and Saturdays can be very busy, but there is a distinct difference on Monday mornings after most of the weekend tourists have gone home.

Malaysian public holidays and long weekends are also busy times for Hat Yai. For example, the end of Ramadan may be a celebration for Muslim Malays but it's also a public holiday for everyone in Malaysia and consequently Hat Yai is always jam packed with Chinese Malaysian tourists at the end of Ramadan.

There are also some other events in the Hat Yai calendar that are well known to Malaysians and these times tend to be very busy. For example, there is a huge merit-making ceremony in August with over 10,000 monks in attendance, and the Chinese vegetarian festival in September attracts a lot of ethnic Chinese visitors.

I mention this because depending when you arrive will affect how easy it is to find a decent place to stay. There are so many hotel rooms in Hat Yai that it will always possible to find somewhere to stay but what is available may not be exactly what you had in mind.

Most visitors are ethnic Chinese. Malaysians make up the bulk followed by Singaporeans but there are a growing number of visitors from Hong Kong and mainland China. Because of this, Chinese New Year can get very busy and hotels get booked up well in advance.

If you are planning to visit Hat Yai in late January or early February, do an Internet search to see what date Chinese New Year falls on for the year you are visiting. If you are coming at any other time of year alter your search to 'public holidays Malaysia'.

If your visit coincides with either Chinese New Year or a Malaysian public holiday it might be an idea to book somewhere on-line in order to make an advance reservation.

The Western New Year is also a busy time and hotels are normally busy in the week between Christmas and New Year. The local municipality close off some streets at New Year in which they organise a food fair and there is a countdown to welcome in the New Year. Thais pronounce this kow-dow.

Travel Agent Discounts

You might think that if a travel agent was selling hotel rooms they would add their commission and make it more expensive than going direct to the hotel. Right?

Not necessarily. Travel agents around Hat Yai can offer savings on hotel rates at hotels just a few yards away. Find a hotel you like and ask reception what the walk-in rate is. Then go to a travel agent, such as Konsortium who are located opposite Lee Gardens Plaza, and ask them what rate they can give you for the same hotel. It will probably be cheaper.

Bear in mind though that the rate quoted by the hotel may include breakfast for two whereas the travel agent price may not. Make sure you find out exactly what is included and then work out what suits you best.

If you use a travel agent to book a room you pay the agent who will give you a voucher which you then take to the hotel. It can be a simple way to save money.

Booking Accommodation

Dealing directly with hotels in Thailand can be difficult and frustrating. English language skills are extremely poor in Thailand and I have received e-mails on several occasions complaining that Thai hotels don't reply to e-mails.

The best way to book in advance is to go through a reputable booking company, such as Agoda. The Agoda website is excellent and they offer a wide selection of hotels in Thailand at the best prices.

Even if you arrive without a booking at the busiest time of year you will most likely be able to find somewhere to stay, but it might not be your first choice of hotel or location. It is always best to book in advance.

Long Stay Accommodation

Most visitors to Hat Yai tend to stay just for a few days. Farang backpackers travelling up and down the peninsula stay for even less. Ideally, most would prefer to pass straight through but they are sometimes forced to stay overnight to get their onward connection.

Nonetheless, I have provided some details about long stay accommodation for people who are interested in longer stays or perhaps they will be working (or teaching) in Hat Yai.

Hat Yai has a lot of rooms for rent at the bottom end of the market for local Thais or for Thais who have gone there to work from other parts of the country and want to keep their expenses to an absolute minimum. To be frank, these aren't very pleasant at all and wouldn't suit many Westerners.

More upmarket long term accommodation can be difficult to find but a few decent places do exist. Of course, staying in hotels is one option for long stays but it gets expensive and it isn't very personal or homely.

Houses are actually very cheap to rent, especially if you are willing to live a little way out of town. They can be as cheap as Bt3,000 a month. Utility bills are extra and it will be necessary to spend money on furniture, bedding, towels and kitchenware etc.

All of these items are relatively cheap in Thailand but obviously this wouldn't be worth doing for just a few months. If living in a house you will need to take care of your own security. Bag snatching and house break-ins are a big problem in Hat Yai; just look at the number of window bars and barbed-wire fences outside Thai houses.

A Thai friend of mine was burgled about five times in one month. He ended up just leaving the door open so the thieves could get in without causing any damage. Most apartment buildings have 24-hour security guards and CCTV so you don't need to worry as much but you still need to be careful. There was a spate of break-ins at my apartment building before the thief/rapist was caught.

Short Stay Accommodation

Disclaimer

These are not reviews as such and I have not stayed in the majority of hotels listed below. I have tried to include some basic information (location, contact details, room rates, facilities, etc) and a photo just to give anyone interested a very general idea.

In addition, I have made some comments based on my initial impressions. How new is the accommodation? What state were the rooms in? What kind of people tend to stay there? How friendly - or otherwise - were the staff? Is the location convenient?

A couple of people have contacted me through this site with comments about Hat Yai hotels they have stayed in and I have added these. Guest comments remain completely unedited and their inclusion does not necessarily indicate that I agree.

Nothing here should be taken very seriously. You may love a place I detest, and vice-versa. We all have very different requirements and different ideas about what makes a place good or not.

Room rate information was provided by the individual establishments and was correct at the time of posting. You may find that there has been a price increase, or you may even be offered a lower rate. If you are aware of any changes you can always contact me so that I can amend the information here.

Feedback and Requests

Do you have any comments about a Hat Yai hotel you have stayed at that can be posted here? Are you interested in somewhere I haven't listed? Have I made a mistake with any of the information below? Was I completely off the mark with any of my comments?

As a guide, this information is only useful if it is accurate. I don't have time to constantly review changing situations with Hat Yai hotels so this is where you can help me. I can be contacted using the tab at the top of the page.

Comments: At the time of writing (March 2013), this is the latest hotel to open in Hat Yai. It opened on 9th February 2013. There is still work going on outside, and neither the restaurant nor in-house massage shop are finished yet. The restaurant will be on the ground floor, near reception, and the massage shop will be on the 3rd floor.

It's quite a large hotel with 189 rooms. Before this latest reincarnation it was previously the Montien Hotel. The location is next door to Kings Hotel and it is a very short walk to the railway station, Robinson department store, and Lee Gardens Plaza.

Being called the Aloha hotel you might have expected an Hawaiian theme with hula dancing female staff clad in grass skirts placing leis around the necks of weary guests as they disembark from their Malaysian tour buses. Not quite. However, there are some paper pineapple decorations in reception to conjure up the South Sea Islands experience.

It uses the standard design for hotel rooms in Thailand. The rooms aren't huge or extravagant, but they are perfectly adequate for a short stay in Hat Yai. The hotel also provides kettles and drink-making facilities in the rooms.

As ever, if you stay here and would care to let me have your thoughts about the hotel, I always appreciate receiving feedback from real guests and it helps to make the information on this site more useful.

Book This Accommodation

You can book this accommodation through Agoda. Using this direct link to book your hotel helps me with the cost of running and maintaining this site at no additional cost to yourself. In fact, you should save money by using Agoda. Your support is very much appreciated. Thank you!

Guest Comments:

This is a decent hotel. Standard Double is 1,050 Baht. Most expensive room is 1,950. No deposit. Price is little higher than other hotels in town. But this is a brand new. It is worthy to stay. Staff is very kind. Two lifts are there. You do not need to wait so long to going upstairs even though hotels has many rooms. Hotel restaurant offers breakfast with 100 Bath.

There is a fridge inside. Nothing inside. That was good for me. Two complimentary bottled water were given. Flat TV has few Thai and Malaysia channels. NHK and KBS world, too. Room was clean and spacious. View is good, too. Shower is big enough. There are many connecting rooms. It really looks good for big family or friends. Many Chinese Malaysian families are staying there. If you have a big family, this hotel is one of good choice.

Hotel is located on the way to Hatyai station and Robinson. If you can not find this hotel, just get a train station and Robinson as your landmark. You will not miss it. Surrounding is calm and peaceful. This is just two small blocks away from Lee Garden Plaza. Great atmosphere!

Overall, I liked here. (July 2013)

To add your comments, send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.

Important - Please read the following carefully before sending me your comments:Do not use this form for availability or rate enquiries. I am not a travel agent, and neither am I affiliated with any hotels or guest houses in Hat Yai. Contact the establishment directly using the information given above. Use this form only if you have stayed at this particular establishment and wish to give some feedback.

Comments: The big Malaysian tour bus outside the hotel in this photo says a lot about the tourist trade in Hat Yai. When I took the photo there were three outside this hotel alone and dozens more elsewhere around town. More Malaysians than any other nationality visit Thailand as tourists - a fact that shouldn't come as a surprise given that Malaysia has a fairly healthy economy and is so close. Hat Yai is less than an hour from the Malaysian border.

The Ambassador is just one of many mid-class hotels in Hat Yai that has been built and operates almost exclusively to deal with the Malaysian tourist trade. For a very small amount of money, weekend tourists can get an adequate room and save their Ringgits for other pleasures.

In these pages you will find lots more similar hotels and maybe a few that are a little different.

The Ambassador closed temporarily some time in 2007 or 2008 while a refurbishment was carried out. Naturally, when it reopened the rooms rates had gone up. Before the refurbishment the rate was Bt480 but afterwards it went up to Bt580. That's still not a lot of money and I'm sure the additional comfort of the refurbishment is worth the extra Bt100.

Guest Comments:

Stayed here again. Room rate still 680 baht. Once again In found this to be a good hotel that I would stay at again. (June 2014)

680 baht now. The hotel is pretty good, rooms are in good condition, the wifi works, and there is hot water most of the time. One morning the water was not very warm but I might have been the only guest. The staff are very nice, from the front desk to the cleaning ladies they are all friendly. I'll stay here again. (February 2013)

To add your comments, send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.

Important - Please read the following carefully before sending me your comments:Do not use this form for availability or rate enquiries. I am not a travel agent, and neither am I affiliated with any hotels or guest houses in Hat Yai. Contact the establishment directly using the information given above. Use this form only if you have stayed at this particular establishment and wish to give some feedback.

Comments: The Asian had a big refit in 2006 to spruce things up a bit and probably to justify higher room rates. It is a typical mid-class Hat Yai hotel aimed predominantly at the Malaysian and Singaporean weekend tourist trade. There's not a lot more to be said really.

It's located opposite the Diamond Plaza hotel, close to Gim Yong market and Lee Gardens, and has the usual facilities demanded by regular visitors. There is a massage shop, a barber shop, pretty Thai girls to serenade guests in the evening, and private karaoke rooms.

The rooms are completely standard for this class of Thai hotel (it's as if every hotel in Thailand uses exactly the same design).

Book This Accommodation

You can book this accommodation through Agoda. Using this direct link to book your hotel helps me with the cost of running and maintaining this site at no additional cost to yourself. In fact, you should save money by using Agoda. Your support is very much appreciated. Thank you!

Guest Comments: No guest comments yet. Be the first to comment. Send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.

Important - Please read the following carefully before sending me your comments:Do not use this form for availability or rate enquiries. I am not a travel agent, and neither am I affiliated with any hotels or guest houses in Hat Yai. Contact the establishment directly using the information given above. Use this form only if you have stayed at this particular establishment and wish to give some feedback.

Comments: This large, long-stay apartment building opened in 2010. There are three separate buildings and a total of around 200 rooms. It is located near the Kor Hong intersection just next to what is referred to on the map as the 'Transport Office'. The location is in a small Soi very close to Phetkasem Road and there is parking for cars and motorbikes.

Rooms are rented out for two prices. I believe the only extra amenity that the Bt4,400 rooms have over the Bt3,800 ones is a warm shower. All rooms are air-conditioned. The advertising blurb says that all rooms have cable TV and Internet, but I'm not sure if these are included in the basic rate or whether you have to pay extra. Rooms come with some basic furniture, a bed and a mattress. The initial deposit is Bt7,000.

I noticed a minimart, laundry shop and coffee shop close by. Big C Extra is five minutes away in a sawng-thaew, or if you go the other way and turn right at the Kor Hong intersection Tesco Lotus is about 10 minutes away.

There's not a great deal more to say. Lots of Thais live in places like this and they are purely functional living spaces. They aren't grand or attractive, but they serve a purpose at a price that is acceptable to the locals.

This particular apartment is located further out from the centre of town that many other apartment buildings. However, if you don't have your own transport there are hundreds of Bt10 sawng-thaews that travel along Phetkasem Road every day so getting around shouldn't be a problem. Just walk a few yards to the end of the Soi and flag down the next sawng-thaew that's passing.

Guest Comments: No guest comments yet. Be the first to comment. Send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.

Important - Please read the following carefully before sending me your comments:Do not use this form for availability or rate enquiries. I am not a travel agent, and neither am I affiliated with any hotels or guest houses in Hat Yai. Contact the establishment directly using the information given above. Use this form only if you have stayed at this particular establishment and wish to give some feedback.

Comments: This low cost apartment building opened in 2008 and when I looked in October there were still plenty of rooms available.

Apart from being a new place, the other benefit is the quietness of its location. The location isn't all that convenient but in Hat Yai it is difficult to get a convenient location that is also relatively quiet.

There are a variety of rooms - some with external windows, some with air-conditioning, some slightly bigger - and the people running the place seemed to be willing to make the room how you want it.

Their business card gives the location as being behind the Nissan showroom on 'Tanon 30m' which is the local nickname for Rajyindee Road.

Guest Comments: No guest comments yet. Be the first to comment. Send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.

Important - Please read the following carefully before sending me your comments:Do not use this form for availability or rate enquiries. I am not a travel agent, and neither am I affiliated with any hotels or guest houses in Hat Yai. Contact the establishment directly using the information given above. Use this form only if you have stayed at this particular establishment and wish to give some feedback.